Creeks

Well it’s been over a month now since I left Texas and thinking back to the places I’ve been these last 30 days is starting to become quite unbelievable for me. I’ve made it from the deep south central part of the country all the way to the far Northwest reaches so far. I’ve seen 7 beautiful states and have stayed in more incredible places than I could have ever imagined in such a short amount of time. My trip so far has taken me a very far way and through many different environments. It’s now during these last few days of my trip, that I’ve made it to an absolutely stunning environment where I find myself spending my days running through the Pacific Cascades Mountains. What a beautiful place this is. John Muir, the famed naturalist, once said “The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.” I couldn’t agree more after staying in these forest wilderness’ here in the evergreen state. These woods and mountains are just so endless and limitless in their natural wonder. Here in this special environment; creeks begin flowing from mountain top glaciers, crash and fall down steep rocky waterfalls, and continue downward into an organized maze of wide rivers spread throughout the valleys, only to be interrupted by the occasional green lush meadow or patch of lost forest trees. The mountain peaks and covering forests themselves are an endless sea of jagged points and ridges as far as the eye can see. Within that entire ocean of peaks and woods, lay hundreds of glaciers, each starting this natural journey of water from mountain top to ocean below. I couldn’t ask for a more beautiful place to be staying. The sheer power of mother nature and time are evident everywhere around me. I’ll be spending the next few days exploring more into this unforgettable part of the country, hoping to see more of not just nature but the power of time itself. And finally to answer the age old question of, “if a tree falls in a forest and no one’s around, does it make a noise?” Yes, the tree makes quite a loud noise. Then that loud noise causes a wide variety of noises all around to arise as the living forest and living animals of the forest react to such a monumental symphony of noises. I’d say that the natural Universe couldn’t be any more clear in a place like this.

Pictures:

This is a part of the country that is beautiful beyond what words can describe.

Nature at work.

Sunset over Lake Roosevelt.

There are two forces at play in these woods, water and time.

Washington Pass

Glaciers to creeks.

4AM in the morning, the sun light is barely beginning to make it’s appearance.

More stars in the woods.

This photo was taken at night, the sky is being illuminated by the moon.

Reflections of forested mountains.

At the base of the valleys, you’ll find this.

Sunset over Lake Roosevelt.

In forests like this, very green plants grow on just normal green plants.

View of the valley floor river from high above.

WOW! I believe I’ve said that word out loud at least a thousand times in the past two days all while smiling ear to ear the entire time. I spent a day crossing mountain ranges within Montana, and am now in the Bitterroot Valley for the next few days. This whole valley has really blown me away with the beauty of it’s dense forests and jagged mountains. I just can’t get enough of this place right now. I’ve felt solitude before, but the kind of peace and solitude you feel in a place like this makes everywhere else you’ve been before seem busy and distracting. In the deep forests of this valley, thoughts are your only companion and the beauty of the surrounding nature puts an intoxicating spell on you that makes you just want to sit back and listen. Just like my past campsite, the one I’m staying in now is right up against the border of a National Wilderness and going exploring in there has been an absolute treat. As soon as I cross the border from National Forest to Wilderness, the scenery immediately changes. The trails begin to narrow to the point where sometimes it’s best to traverse them sideways. The landscape of the forests get even more dense with plants, rocks, and everything else natural you could imagine. The forest grounds begin to be completely covered with moss and small plants that I have never seen before anywhere else. There is definitely something special about a place like this and it’s impossible to spend more than 5 minutes here and not realize this. Unfortunately for me and my photos, the weather has been throwing some cloudy days my way. The jagged peaks are always going in and out of hiding in the clouds as the day goes by. But with a place this beautiful and majestic, I don’t mind waiting for some better weather to truly see what’s right in front of me. I can only see bits and parts, here and there as the weather allows; but I know that this place can be so much more with just a little less clouds. So I’ll be spending the next few days staying put right here; all while taking in the fearsome peaks, dense forests, and incredible feelings that a place like this will give you.

-Warren

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